Youth Protest Rocks Benue as Armed Herdsmen Kill Over 200 in Guma

Angered by the persistent killings in Benue communities, youth protesters on Sunday blocked the Abuja–Makurdi expressway, demanding urgent government intervention.

Clad in black attire and wielding placards and palm fronds, the youths staged a protest near the Yelewata axis of Guma Local Government Area, where suspected armed herders had launched an attack less than 24 hours earlier, killing over 200 people. 

The protest caused major traffic disruption, sparking panic among commuters as the highway was completely blocked by demonstrators calling for security, justice, and government accountability.

Many of the placards read phrases like “Enough is enough,” “Stop the killings,” and “Benue lives matter.”

Despite warnings by the Benue State Government against unauthorized gatherings, particularly by aggrieved youth groups, the protesters said they could no longer remain silent.

“We feel abandoned,” said one protester. “We can’t watch our people die in hundreds and be told to keep quiet. Where is the government?”

The Yelewata massacre is the latest in a string of violent attacks that have plagued Benue communities, fueling longstanding tensions between farmers and herders in Nigeria’s Middle Belt region.

As of press time, the Benue State Government had not issued a new statement on the protest. However, it had earlier cautioned residents in affected communities to remain calm and avoid acts that could escalate tensions.

Security agencies have reportedly been deployed to restore order and protect key routes across the state.